Lorenzo Mucchi

Bio: Lorenzo Mucchi is an academic researcher from University of Florence. The author has contributed to research in topics: Wireless & Wireless network. The author has an hindex of 17, co-authored 142 publications receiving 1154 citations. Previous affiliations of Lorenzo Mucchi include University of Oulu.

Time of arrival estimation for UWB localizers in realistic environments

Abstract: This paper investigates time of arrival (ToA) estimation methods for ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) propagation signals. Different algorithms are implemented in order to detect the direct path in a dense multipath environment. Different suboptimal, low-complex techniques based on peak detection are used to deal with partial overlap of signal paths. A comparison in terms of ranging accuracy, complexity, and parameters sensitivity to propagation conditions is carried out also considering a conventional technique based on threshold detection. In particular, the algorithms are tested on experimental data collected from a measurement campaign performed in a typical office building.

Experimental Characterization of Diversity Navigation

Abstract: Wireless networks with navigation capability enable mobile devices to both communicate and determine their positions. Diversity navigation employing multiple sensing technologies can overcome the limitation of individual technologies, especially when operating in harsh environments such as indoors. To characterize the diversity of navigation systems in real environments, we performed an extensive measurement campaign, where data from heterogenous sensors were collected simultaneously. The performance of Bayesian navigation algorithms, relying on the particle filter implementation, is evaluated based on measured data from ultrawideband, ZigBee, and inertial sensors. This enables us to quantify the benefits of data fusion as well as the effect of statistical mobility models for real-time diversity navigation.

How 6G Technology Can Change the Future Wireless Healthcare

Abstract: The current implementation of 5G technology has pushed the academic community to think about what is next. To properly answer this question, we have to figure out which will be the needs in the future. This paper deals with the answers to those questions for the health vertical of 6G. The grown and the aging of population worldwide make the current healthcare systems unsustainable in the future. Wireless health has to be implemented to let all citizens be followed and managed in the health process of their life by pursuing an economically viable way for the community. 6G is envisioned to be a technology which will not only make the wireless healthcare true, but it also will allow the Internet of Bio-Nano-Things, letting the human body be part of the “Net”. Very low complex wearable/implantable devices will be part of our everyday life, which can recover information about our health and lifestyle from every object we interact with, from a bottle of water to a smart drug.

The Role of Physical Layer Security in IoT: A Novel Perspective

Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of securing the configuration phase of an Internet of Things (IoT) system. The main drawbacks of current approaches are the focus on specific techniques and methods, and the lack of a cross layer vision of the problem. In a smart environment, each IoT device has limited resources and is often battery operated with limited capabilities (e.g., no keyboard). As a consequence, network security must be carefully analyzed in order to prevent security and privacy issues. In this paper, we will analyze the IoT threats, we will propose a security framework for the device initialization and we will show how physical layer security can effectively boost the security of IoT systems.

IEEE 802.15.7-Compliant Ultra-Low Latency Relaying VLC System for Safety-Critical ITS

Abstract: Visible Light Communications (VLC) represents a very promising technology for the implementation of revolutionary Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) protocols. In cooperative ITS, where the interconnection of vehicular units will enable for revolutionary protocols such as car platooning, queue avoidance, and for many critical automatic and/or assisted driving applications, the capability of vehicles to relay safety-critical information to incoming units in a very fast and reliable way is a key factor. In this paper, we propose and test a novel infrastructure-to-vehicle-to-vehicle (I2V2V) VLC system for ITS, embedding a digital Active Decode-and-Relay (ADR) stage for decoding and relaying the information received from a regular LED traffic light, which is enabled for VLC, towards further incoming units. The experimental validation of the ADR VLC chain, as well as a thorough statistical analysis of packet error rate (PER) distribution in the transmission, has been performed for distances up to 50 meters. Our analysis shows that the VLC system reliably attains ultra-low, sub-ms latencies for distances up to 30 m, and still grants a latency below 10 ms even for distances of 50 m at 99.9% confidence level. Such latency values are far shorter than those reported in literature for RF-based technologies such as, e.g., those based on LTE or WiFi. Our results could boost the introduction of VLC technology in real cooperative ITS scenarios where very low latencies are essential. The demonstrated system prototype is compatible with IEEE 802.15.7 standard.

On the capacity of a cellular CDMA system

Abstract: It is shown that, particularly for terrestrial cellular telephony, the interference-suppression feature of CDMA (code division multiple access) can result in a many-fold increase in capacity over analog and even over competing digital techniques. A single-cell system, such as a hubbed satellite network, is addressed, and the basic expression for capacity is developed. The corresponding expressions for a multiple-cell system are derived. and the distribution on the number of users supportable per cell is determined. It is concluded that properly augmented and power-controlled multiple-cell CDMA promises a quantum increase in current cellular capacity. >

Cooperative Localization in Wireless Networks

Abstract: Location-aware technologies will revolutionize many aspects of commercial, public service, and military sectors, and are expected to spawn numerous unforeseen applications. A new era of highly accurate ubiquitous location-awareness is on the horizon, enabled by a paradigm of cooperation between nodes. In this paper, we give an overview of cooperative localization approaches and apply them to ultrawide bandwidth (UWB) wireless networks. UWB transmission technology is particularly attractive for short- to medium-range localization, especially in GPS-denied environments: wide transmission bandwidths enable robust communication in dense multipath scenarios, and the ability to resolve subnanosecond delays results in centimeter-level distance resolution. We will describe several cooperative localization algorithms and quantify their performance, based on realistic UWB ranging models developed through an extensive measurement campaign using FCC-compliant UWB radios. We will also present a powerful localization algorithm by mapping a graphical model for statistical inference onto the network topology, which results in a net-factor graph, and by developing a suitable net-message passing schedule. The resulting algorithm (SPAWN) is fully distributed, can cope with a wide variety of scenarios, and requires little communication overhead to achieve accurate and robust localization.

Ranging With Ultrawide Bandwidth Signals in Multipath Environments

Abstract: Over the coming decades, high-definition situationally-aware networks have the potential to create revolutionary applications in the social, scientific, commercial, and military sectors Ultrawide bandwidth (UWB) technology is a viable candidate for enabling accurate localization capabilities through time-of-arrival (TOA)-based ranging techniques These techniques exploit the fine delay resolution property of UWB signals by estimating the TOA of the first signal path Exploiting the full capabilities of UWB TOA estimation can be challenging, especially when operating in harsh propagation environments, since the direct path may not exist or it may not be the strongest In this paper, we first give an overview of ranging techniques together with the primary sources of TOA error (including propagation effects, clock drift, and interference) We then describe fundamental TOA bounds (such as the Cramer-Rao bound and the tighter Ziv-Zakai bound) in both ideal and multipath environments These bounds serve as useful benchmarks in assessing the performance of TOA estimation techniques We also explore practical low-complexity TOA estimation techniques and analyze their performance in the presence of multipath and interference using IEEE 802154a channel models as well as experimental data measured in indoor residential environments

Ultra Wideband Indoor Positioning Technologies: Analysis and Recent Advances.

Abstract: In recent years, indoor positioning has emerged as a critical function in many end-user applications; including military, civilian, disaster relief and peacekeeping missions. In comparison with outdoor environments, sensing location information in indoor environments requires a higher precision and is a more challenging task in part because various objects reflect and disperse signals. Ultra WideBand (UWB) is an emerging technology in the field of indoor positioning that has shown better performance compared to others. In order to set the stage for this work, we provide a survey of the state-of-the-art technologies in indoor positioning, followed by a detailed comparative analysis of UWB positioning technologies. We also provide an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to analyze the present state of UWB positioning technologies. While SWOT is not a quantitative approach, it helps in assessing the real status and in revealing the potential of UWB positioning to effectively address the indoor positioning problem. Unlike previous studies, this paper presents new taxonomies, reviews some major recent advances, and argues for further exploration by the research community of this challenging problem space.